What is the main focus of formative assessment in the classroom?

Formative assessment primarily serves as a tool for gathering information about student learning during the instructional process. Its main goal is to provide ongoing feedback that can be utilized by both teachers and students to enhance learning outcomes. This feedback allows instructors to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, adjust teaching strategies, and tailor instruction to meet individual needs.

In contrast to assignments that determine final grades or evaluations based on standardized tests, formative assessments focus on the process of learning and encourage continuous improvement rather than simply measuring performance at a fixed point in time. Even though teacher performance can be observed through student progress, the central emphasis of formative assessment lies in fostering an environment conducive to growth and learning, rather than evaluation or comparison.